Bringing neighbors together to build a more sustainable, resilient future for Berkeley. We envision a strong, diverse local economy, with a greatly reduced dependence on fossil fuels, and a cooperative, rewarding community life.

T r a n s i t i o n B e r k e l e y

Transition Berkeley is part of a growing international network of Transition initiatives.

We're joining cities around the world to face the enormous challenges of economic instability, climate change and fossil fuel dependency. Transition Berkeley is proud to become the 110th U.S. Initiative.

The Transition approach will help Berkeleyto envision and create a future with more locally produced food and other necessities, cleaner forms of transportation and energy. Along the way, we'll build a more equitable and vibrant local economy and re-learn practical skills our grandparents once had.

Join usand discover just how powerful the collective genius can be when people work together!

Building Resilient Communities Together

The morning session will launch Oakland's 100 Resilient Cities Initiative (supported by the Rockefeller Foundation), and is completely full. But everyone is welcome for the afternoon session, starting at 12:45 pm. Afternoon presentations will include Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Daily Acts E.D. Trathen Heckman and local community resilience leaders (including East Bay Share Fest, SELC and Victory Garden Foundation). Then we will have three breakout sessions: Fundraising (with the Rose Foundation, the Pollination Project and Indiegogo), Exploring Partnerships between Grassroots Orgs and Local Governments to Build Resilience (led by the S.F. Foundation), and Community Resilience Challenge 101 (to learn about this exciting program). Then stay for a reception with wine & appetizers. This is an excellent opportunity to meet local government officials, funders and local community resilience leaders. It is FREE (though we will be making a pitch for donations to support the Challenge). Please RSVP to: susansilber07@gmail.com if you are interested in attending the afternoon session.

American Revolutionary, The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs

Transition Berkeley invites you to join us for an award winning film about Grace Lee Boggs, a Chinese American philosopher, writer and activist in Detroit with a thick FBI file and a surprising vision of what an American revolution can be. Rooted for 75 years in the labor, civil rights and Black Power movements, she challenges a new generation to throw off old assumptions, think creatively and redefine revolution for our times. American Revolutionary has won six Audience Awards. The film will be introduced by Alison Paskal, educator and urban gardener, and Hank Herrera, food justice activist, working to build new sustainable, local healthy food systems serving vulnerable neighborhoods, who have both known and worked with Grace in Detroit.

Come at 6:30 for conversation and snacks. At 7:00 the film will be preceded by a short presentation from the Gil Tract Community Farm and the Ashby Garden where gardeners are practicing their own style of remaking our world in a more just and sustainable way. The film begins at 7:15 and will be followed by small group discussions. Don't miss this film!

This event is cosponsored by Transition Berkeley, Victory Garden Foundation, We Bee Gardeners and BFUU”s Social Justice Committee.

Historic Fellowship Hall

1924 Cedar Street, Berkeley, CA 94709

Suggested Donation $5-10 No one turned away for lack of funds!

This event is cosponsored by Transition Berkeley, Victory Garden Foundation, We Bee Gardeners and BFUU”s Social Justice Committee.

Historic Fellowship Hall

1924 Cedar Street, Berkeley, CA 94709

(At Bonita Ave, one block east of MLK Way & three blocks west of Shattuck Ave)

This location is wheelchair accessible via the ramp on the Bonita Avenue side of the building.

-Quanah Parker Brightman, National President of United Native Americans.

1:45-2:30 Music, Mingling & Food

2:30 PM - 4 PM

Workshops II

-Planting Pollinator Plants in your garden!

(Become familiar with some favorite pollinator supporting plants for your garden. Make seed balls to take home or help plant some along farm's edges.)

-Nik Bertulis & "Human Nutrient Cycling in the Soil Food Web"

A Community Garden in Downtown Berkeley on Public Land!

On January 17th the citizens of Berkeley came together to reclaim the commons and to celebrate Berkeley's beautiful post office building. "The garden will bring new community connection ... in the downtown area and public involvement will also help to protect the Berkeley Post Office and post offices all over the country from sale and privatization. Community organizations and individuals have been working collaboratively to keep this beautiful and historic resource as a post office for public use. Right now we have had some success as there is no identified buyer and we are waiting to see what will happen in March with the city lawsuit against the United States Postal Service and how things will develop with the zoning overlay passed by the Berkeley City Council in 2014 to keep it zoned for public use." -Community Organizer, Carol Wolfley

Work on the garden will continue and your help is welcome. We have designated Saturdays at noon is the garden support day so stop by to lend a hand.

Climate Action! - Join A Working Group

The Berkeley Climate Action Coalition formed to help bring Berkeley's Climate Action Plan from vision to reality (see Berkeley's progress here.) Through four Working Groups, many exciting plans are underway! We invite you to participate in the Coalition and connect with others addressing climate change. Learn more about the Coalition, Working Groups and upcoming meetings. Info: click here

New Local Resources to Explore

Creativity, Community, Skill-sharing with other folks working to build more resilient communities, these are Transition values that are being spread by two local groups. You can tap into the fun by visiting their websites and attending their events.

Ever want to learn how to make sourdough bread, or a didgeridoo? Perhaps you would like to brush up on your Spanish while making salsa, or practice Qigong in a group. Villagecraft is the place to find a smorgasbord of "learn by doing" activities and meet others who share your interests. Anyone is invited to submit and teach a short class and Villagecraft will connect you with students through their website.

Go to villagecraft.org to find out about their 1st Anniversary Party, on November 22nd. Come hang out, meet fabulous people, and hear about opportunities to learn and connect.

The East Bay Permaculture Guild is a dynamic group focused on practicing permaculture principles every day. Guild meetings are held the 2nd Monday of each month at PLACE, which is located at 1121 64th Street, Oakland, CA.

A BIG THANK YOU to the Musicians at the Crop Swap

The three hearty musicians who play out on the grass seated on two small stools and an inverted plastic bucket enjoy playing for people outdoors and they love playing together. Catherine Rose Crowther on guitar, Tony Phillips on fiddle and Bill Buehring on banjo have been playing Old Time Music for happy crowds at the Transition Berkeley's Crops Swaps for several years now. Their music lends a comfortable, cheerful feeling to the swap. All three of them are long time musicians who play with other groups as well, but for this occasion they call themselves The Share Croppers because that is what the Monday evening Crop Swaps are all about, sharing the foods folks grow at home. The Share Croppers donate their musical talents but they often go home with some really nice produce in exchange.

This week at the Crop Swap people brought a huge variety of home grown and home made foods to share: squash, greens, onions, pepino dulces, kale, collards, lettuce, arugula, flowers, herbs, eggs, preserves, plums, and lemons, The standout for the evening was the home brewed Chocolate Espresso Brew made with barley, chocolate, hops and espresso.

After the swap The Share Croppers lingered on playing for a while, Bill sang a couple of soulful tunes that brought a tear to the eye: An old favorite The Church in the Dell (? is that right Barbara?), and Alone And Forsaken by Hank Williams. Tony explained the difference between Blue Grass and Old Time music to those who stayed on to listen. We look forward to their playing each week, tunes that make you want to tap your toes and swing to and fro. Thank you Share Croppers, your music makes our Monday evening swaps a lot more enjoyable!

Neonicotinoids in the nursery industry have been making news lately. A possible link between the use of this insecticide and honey bee die-offs has led to some controversy. We asked Bay-Friendly Qualified Professional Alisa Rose Seidlitz to share some background on this issue of neonicotinoids and nursery plants. Read her entire article on the Bay Friendly Blogto learn what Alisa Rose found in her research.

The article is chock full of valuable information on how Neonicotinoids work, the current studies linking these pesticides to bee population declines and steps we can take to bring back the bees. Alisa Rose has also included a list of bee-attracting plants, resources for obtaining these plants, and links to products containing neonicotinoids.

Ohlone Summer Swap Ending, Fall Swap Begins.

Bring your crops, seedlings, homemade yummies, ideas? Be part of this wonderful sharing economy! Could you lend a hand to keep the Swaps going? Contact Barbara at link below. Fall/Winter swaps are held the first Saturday of the month. Clothing, books, prepared food and other items to swap are welcome. Music and neighborhood free fun for all!

When: New Winter Hours starting 11/1, First Saturday of the month, 10:30am-11:30am